Match Report: Seaford Rock United 3-2 Sallynoggin Pearse
LSL Premier Superleague Group B
Seaford twice came from behind before snatching a last-gasp winner in a breathless cup quarter final at Rockfield Park.
Joe O'Hara was the hero of the hour, with the last kick of the game in the final minute of extra time, but the Penguins were also indebted to goalkeeper Gavin Nugent who made an astonishing reaction save to keep their hopes alive during regulation play.
The hosts were dealt a blow inside the first ten minutes when top scorer Colin Barrett was forced off with injury, but his replacement Stephen Canavan made a quick impact, bursting through the Noggin defence and knocking the ball past keeper Calvin Nyian, who managed to scramble back to his goalline just in time to keep out Gavin Walsh's angled finish.
Seaford's injury luck went from bad to worse as Paul Tansey was unable to continue past the 27th minute, and the Penguins then fell behind when Sean Kavanagh received a short corner and his delivery eluded a sea of legs and somehow ended up in the corner of the Seaford net.
But the hosts responded quickly and it was their two substitutes who combined for the equaliser as muscular winger Niall Holleran powered past Aaron Murphy and squared the ball perfectly for Canavan to convert.
If the first half was short on goalmouth action, it was a different story after half time as Seaford put the Noggin defence under severe pressure, forcing a series of errors, but the visitors' goal led a charmed life. FIrst, Nyian shanked a clearance up in the air under pressure from Canavan, which Anto Meegan almost heading it into his own net, only for Jason Byrne to clear the danger..
Canavan was inches wide from converting a Conor Geoghegan through-ball, before another mix-up in the noggin defence, as Meegan headed past Nyian once again but Richie Mulholland was just unable to reach the ball as it dribbled towards the goalline.
Then Fionn Geoghegan put Canavan through yet again, and once again Nyain rushed off his line but got nowhere near the ball, but Canavan's lob somehow bounced over the crossbar. The closest Sallynoggin came was when Murphy headed Dylan Rowe's corner just wide, but with five minutes to play they were handed a lifeline when David Mackey was penalised for a trip on James Bailey, and Graham Mellon made no mistake from the penalty spot.
It shortly after when Nugent made his incredible save, showing superhuman reflexes to deny Glen Byrne from point-blank range, and his teammates took full advantage of his heroics. Two minutes into the three additional minutes they levelled the scores again. Ian Nolan was the architect, lobbing the ball over the top of the Noggin defence for Conor Geoghegan to square it selflessly to give Walsh a tap in, the Red Panda picking the perfect moment to end a 63-game dry spell
When Noggin were reduced to ten men following an ugly incident after the full-time whistle, there only ever looked like one winner in extra time, and Canavan had the ball in the net during the opening period, only to be pinged for offside. But the tie looked destined to be decided on spot-kicks when O'Hara intervened.
Owen Brayden whipped in a right wing cross, and Canavan was clearly fouled as he challenged for it. The referee brought the whistle to his lips to award the penalty, but O'Hara was in no mood to take any chances, burying his first time effort into the top corner, causing jubilant scenes and a semi-final berth for the Penguins.
Seaford:, Gavin Nugent, Steve Kane, Paul Tansey (Niall Holleran , 27) , Ian Nolan, Fionn Geoghegan, Conor Geoghegan, Mate Salacan (Owen Brayden, 63), Gavin Walsh, David Mackey (Eoin McArdle, 86), Richie Mulholland (Joe O'Hara, 74) Colin Barrett (Stephen Canavan, 10)
Sallynoggin Pearse: Calvin Nyian, Sean Kavanagh (Luke Murphy, 88), Aaron Murphy, Anto Meegan, Jason Byrne (Finn Murray, 63), David Keegan, Dean Delaney (Oisin Gaffney, 73), Dylan Rowe, Graham Mellon, James Bailey, Jack Farrell (Glen Byrne, 74)
Rockfield Park, 7 May 2021
Joe O'Hara was the hero of the hour, with the last kick of the game in the final minute of extra time, but the Penguins were also indebted to goalkeeper Gavin Nugent who made an astonishing reaction save to keep their hopes alive during regulation play.
The hosts were dealt a blow inside the first ten minutes when top scorer Colin Barrett was forced off with injury, but his replacement Stephen Canavan made a quick impact, bursting through the Noggin defence and knocking the ball past keeper Calvin Nyian, who managed to scramble back to his goalline just in time to keep out Gavin Walsh's angled finish.
Seaford's injury luck went from bad to worse as Paul Tansey was unable to continue past the 27th minute, and the Penguins then fell behind when Sean Kavanagh received a short corner and his delivery eluded a sea of legs and somehow ended up in the corner of the Seaford net.
But the hosts responded quickly and it was their two substitutes who combined for the equaliser as muscular winger Niall Holleran powered past Aaron Murphy and squared the ball perfectly for Canavan to convert.
If the first half was short on goalmouth action, it was a different story after half time as Seaford put the Noggin defence under severe pressure, forcing a series of errors, but the visitors' goal led a charmed life. FIrst, Nyian shanked a clearance up in the air under pressure from Canavan, which Anto Meegan almost heading it into his own net, only for Jason Byrne to clear the danger..
Canavan was inches wide from converting a Conor Geoghegan through-ball, before another mix-up in the noggin defence, as Meegan headed past Nyian once again but Richie Mulholland was just unable to reach the ball as it dribbled towards the goalline.
Then Fionn Geoghegan put Canavan through yet again, and once again Nyain rushed off his line but got nowhere near the ball, but Canavan's lob somehow bounced over the crossbar. The closest Sallynoggin came was when Murphy headed Dylan Rowe's corner just wide, but with five minutes to play they were handed a lifeline when David Mackey was penalised for a trip on James Bailey, and Graham Mellon made no mistake from the penalty spot.
It shortly after when Nugent made his incredible save, showing superhuman reflexes to deny Glen Byrne from point-blank range, and his teammates took full advantage of his heroics. Two minutes into the three additional minutes they levelled the scores again. Ian Nolan was the architect, lobbing the ball over the top of the Noggin defence for Conor Geoghegan to square it selflessly to give Walsh a tap in, the Red Panda picking the perfect moment to end a 63-game dry spell
When Noggin were reduced to ten men following an ugly incident after the full-time whistle, there only ever looked like one winner in extra time, and Canavan had the ball in the net during the opening period, only to be pinged for offside. But the tie looked destined to be decided on spot-kicks when O'Hara intervened.
Owen Brayden whipped in a right wing cross, and Canavan was clearly fouled as he challenged for it. The referee brought the whistle to his lips to award the penalty, but O'Hara was in no mood to take any chances, burying his first time effort into the top corner, causing jubilant scenes and a semi-final berth for the Penguins.
Seaford:, Gavin Nugent, Steve Kane, Paul Tansey (Niall Holleran , 27) , Ian Nolan, Fionn Geoghegan, Conor Geoghegan, Mate Salacan (Owen Brayden, 63), Gavin Walsh, David Mackey (Eoin McArdle, 86), Richie Mulholland (Joe O'Hara, 74) Colin Barrett (Stephen Canavan, 10)
Sallynoggin Pearse: Calvin Nyian, Sean Kavanagh (Luke Murphy, 88), Aaron Murphy, Anto Meegan, Jason Byrne (Finn Murray, 63), David Keegan, Dean Delaney (Oisin Gaffney, 73), Dylan Rowe, Graham Mellon, James Bailey, Jack Farrell (Glen Byrne, 74)
Rockfield Park, 7 May 2021